“Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person.” Albert Einstein

Better Watch Out, Better Not Pout

Otherwise the Krampus might get you

The internet is an amazing place. I learn some strange new fact everyday. Take the Krampus for instance. As the Atlantic Magazine tells us

While Saint Nicholas may bring gifts to good boys and girls, ancient folklore in Europe’s Alpine region also tells of Krampus, a frightening beast-like creature who emerges during the Yule season, looking for naughty children to punish in horrible ways — or possibly to drag back to his lair in a sack. In keeping with pre-Germanic Pagan traditions, men dressed as these demons have been frightening children on Krampusnacht for centuries, chasing them and hitting them with sticks, on an (often alcohol-fueled) run through the dark streets.

Let’s think about this. On Krampusnacht you get drunk, you get dressed up and you get to hunt down a bevy of snot-nosed brats. What’s not to love – if you’re an adult. If you’re a kid, however, and you got chased by one of these things I would think you’re gonna need a lot of therapy one day.

Trust the Germans to come up with something like this. There’s nothing half-way with the Germans. Look at the Dutch, They’ve got Black Pete helping to sort out who’s been naught or nice. But Black Pete, a cut little imp in black face, scares no one, whereas a Krampus is a vision of hell itself.

I sometimes wonder whether the paganism lurking inside the German soul is eradicable.